Red Cross Bridging Support Program

The Bridging Support Program (BSP) is a pilot program developed by the International Tracing, Refugee and Asylum Seeker Services of Red Cross in South Australia.

Who it's for Contact details Getting there

The Bridging Support Program is aimed at providing financial and social support for vulnerable asylum seekers and their families who are living in the community and are awaiting an immigration decision.

Why a new program is needed? Some asylum seekers are not eligible for assistance under current Red Cross programs such as the Asylum Seekers Assistance Scheme (ASAS) and the Community Detention Program (CDP). The Bridging Support Program was developed to meet these unmet needs following research conducted in late 2007.

Financial support will enable individuals and families in extreme financial hardship to pay for food, electricity, accommodation, clothing, education and other necessities.

The project will also provide a caseworker and volunteer-based support service offering information orientation, referral to other welfare agencies, and links to social networks.

The program will assist asylum seekers who are not eligible for Centrelink or any other government funded sources of income; do not have work rights or are unable to work, and who have no other means of basic financial support.

Asylum seekers without accommodation or income awaiting a decision on their eligibility for a government funded program.

What kind of service will be provided?

Financial support will enable individuals and families in extreme financial hardship to pay for food, electricity, accommodation, clothing, education and other necessities. The project will also provide a caseworker and volunteer-based support service offering information orientation, referral to other welfare agencies, and links to social networks.

Who the program assists?

Some examples include:

• Asylum seekers without accommodation or income awaiting a decision on their eligibility for a government funded program.
• Pregnant women who do not speak English and need assistance.
• Asylum seekers with a mental health illness.
• Families seeking assistance with schooling.
• People seeking social support.
• Asylum seekers facing homelessness.
• Families unable to provide basic needs to children.
• A person who has experienced torture or trauma in his or her country of origin and requires referral to a specialised counselling service.
• An asylum seeker who needs financial help to pay for medication because they are not eligible for Medicare.

For further information, please contact a staff member of Red Cross International Tracing Refugee and

Asylum Seekers Services in South Australia: Bernie, Jessica, Jackie, Luci or Miwa - 08 8100 4642

Who it's for

Agency type:
Community Agency

Topic Area:
Services for survivors of torture and trauma

Available languages:
English

Age coverage:
No specific age group

Geographical coverage:
State/Territory

Available in states:
SA

Local areas or regions:

Referral requirements/eligibility:
A client’s vulnerability will be considered when the needs assessment is conducted. Client numbers are dependent on available funding.

Contact details

Address:

SA

Phone:
08 8100 4642

Email:

SAITRS at redcross.org.au

Note: you will need to put the @ symbol in instead of at in the above.

Web address:

How to get there

Disability access:

Service hours:

WEB-S1127